Telegraph-repeater



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. J. MOILHENNY. TELEGRAPH REPEATER.

No. 415,417. Patented Nov. 19, 1889.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. R. J. MGILHENNY.

TELEGRAPH REPEATER.

No. 415,417. Patented Nov. 19. 1889.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. R. J. MGILHENNY. TELEGRAPH REPEATER.

Patented Nov. 19, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD J. MOILIIENNY, OF IVILMIN ir FON, NORTH CAROLINA.

TELEGRAPH-REPEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,417, dated November19, 1889.

Application filed June 6, 1889. $erial1lo. 313,320. (No model.)

To all (.U/LONL it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. MCILHENNY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at VVilmington, in the county of New Hanover and Stateof North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTelegraphic Repeaters; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to telegraphic repeaters; and it consists incertain novel features of construction of the same in connection with anovel arrangement of circuits, which will be hereinafter fullydescribed.

In the drawings I have illustrated my invention, and it is fullydisclosed in the following specification and claims.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my improved transmitter.Fig. 2 is a similar view of the relay employed by me. Fig. 3 is adiagrammatic view showing the arrangement of the circuits. Figs. at and5 are views of the form of switch employed by me in two differentpositions.

My invention has for its object to simplify the construction andoperation of telegraphic repeaters so that any operator can attend tothe same to prevent kicks in the instrument and to provide aconstruction whereby the operator receiving when the repeater isrepeating can break the sender, if desired, without rendering the lineinoperative. A construction is also provided whereby the instrument maybe switched off and used as independent transmitters when desired.

In the diagrammatic view, Fig. 3, the instruments are shown arranged atan intermediate station on a line which extends between two stationsnorth and south, said line passing through the said intermediatestation. At the intermediate station the instruments are preferablyarranged as shown in the drawings, there being two transmitters A A andtwo relays B B.

The transmitters are constructed as shown in Fig. 1, as follows: Upon abed-plate O is mounted a magnet D, adapted to operate an armature-leverE, which is pivoted near its center in stanchions'E Adjacent to themagnet D is a post F, secured to the bed-plate is drawn to its magnet.

and provided with two adjustable contacts f f one above and the otherbelow the arinature-lever E-the point fbing provided with suitableinsulation. Two posts G and H are secured to the bed-plate at or nearthe opposite extremity of the lever E. A spring G, having a contactpoint9 near its free end, is secured to the post G, and a contact 6 on leverE engages the contact g when the lever E A second contact 9 is securedto the said spring-arm G and e11- gages an adjustable contact h on thepost II when thelever E is released by its magnet. These contact-pointsare preferably so arranged that the contact g Will strike the point hbefore the circuit through the points g and e is broken. A spring Eholds the armaturelever E normally away from its magnet D, and suitablemeans are provided for adjusting the tension of said spring. Thebed-plate O is provided with suitable binding-posts 0, through which theelectrical connections may be made.

The relays B B are constructed preferably as shown in Fig. 2. A verticalarmature-1e ver K is pivotally mounted at or near its center in suitablestanchions and provided with two armatures on opposite sides of saidlever and on opposite sides of its point of pivoting. A magnet I issupported from the bed-plate (3' by suitable standards to attract thearmature is, located on the upper portion of the lever K, and the upperextremity of said lever plays back and forth between two adjustablecontactpoints t' i. The portion of lever K which engages the contact 1",or said contact itself, is provided with insulation, so that said pointmerely serves as a stop to limit the rearward movement of said leverwhen the circuit through the point is broken. A magnet L is mounted onthe bedplate 0 in a position to attract the armature k on the lower endof the lever K. It will be seen that the magnets I and L, althoughlocated upon different sides of lever K, are one above and the otherabove its pivoting-point; hence they will both draw said lever in thesame direction, and it a current be sent through first one and then theother the second magnet will tend to hold the lever from falling awayfrom the first magnet when the current through the latter is broken. A

spring K holds the lever K normally away from both magnets, and thetension of this spring may be adjusted by any preferred means. Awire 10connects thelever K with a standard 70 on the bed-plate. The bed-plate Cis provided with suitable binding-posts c in the usual manner.

While I have shown the lever K mounted vertically, it is obvious that itmight be mounted horizontally, if desired.

I prefer to provide switches P P, for the transmitters A A, whereby theymay be disconnected from the repeating-circuit wand used as ordinarysounders while a message is being sent by the hand-keys O and Oneot-these switches is shown in two positionsin Figs. 4 and 5. Theseswitches consist of two segments 19 19, each provided with threecontacts separated by suitable insulation. A wire p connects the lowestcontact of one segment with the upper contact of the other segment. Alever 19 is pivoted at its center between the two segments, and isprovided at each end with a bridge 19 insulated from said lever, and ofsuch width as to cover two parts of one of the segments 19, thusconnecting the central contact with either the upper or the lowercontact, as desired. A lever-handle P is provided for throwing theswitch-bridges into engagement with different pairs of contacts or thesegments p when desired to change the electrical connections.

Referring to the diagrammatic view, the

courses of the various circuits are as follows: 35=

The main line from station north passes along wire N, throughtransmitting-key O, which is normally closed, through magnet 1 of relay13, along Wire N to switch P, across the bridge p and up to the post Gof transmitter A, thence along spring G, through contacts g and e, leverE, and stanchion E, thence down to switch and across bridge, thence toground. The other main line passes along line S from station souththrough key 0, which is closed,

through magnet I of relay B, along wire to switch P, across bridge, upto post G of transmitter A, along spring G, through contacts 9 and e,thence through lever E and stanchions E to switch P, and thence toground. I employ a local circuit with each side of this repeatingmechanism, which circuits are as follows: Starting from local battery X,the circuit passes from positive pole along wire R (represented bydotted lines) to magnet D of transmitter A, thence to tap-point r,thence to point 'i of relay B, thence along lever K across wire 10 tostandard 16, thence down to a tappoint r on the wire N, thence alongwire N, through switch P, to standard G of transmitter A, thence throughcontacts 9 and e and leverE to contact f on post F, thence on wire R tolowest point of switch-segment of switch P, thence to tap-point r thenceto negative pole of battery.

The local circuit from battery Z on south side of the line is similar tothe one just described,

[and passes from positive pole along wire T (represented by dottedlines) to tap-pointt, thence to lowest point of switch P, thence throughpost F of transmitterA, through point f, to lever E, thence throughpoints 6 and g and post G to switch on part of main wire S, across onbridge and along main wire S to tappointt, thence on wire T to standardk of relay B', through wire lever K, and contact 1', thence along wire Tto tap-point t thence to magnet D of transmitter A, thence to negativepole of battery.

The local circuits R andT are governed by the relay-points i of relays Band B, respectively. l/Vhen the circuit R is broken, the

magnet D of transmitter A will release its armature-lever E, therebybreaking the contact between lever E and contact f. The opening of thecircuit '1 atf of transmitter A throws the current of battery Z throughthe extra magnet L of relay B, and the breaking of circuit R at f oftransmitter A throws the current of battery X through the extra magnet Lof relay B. The current R, when broken at f of transmitter A, will passfrom positive pole of batteryX on wire R, through magnet D oftransmitter A, down to tap-point r, thence through. relay-point i ofrelay B, down lever K, across wire 10 down to tap-point ii, thence onwire U through magnet L down to tap-point r thence on wire R to battery.1

The circuit T, when broken at f of transmitter A, will pass frompositive pole of battery Z on wire T up to tap-point i, thence 011 wireV, through magnet L of relay B, to tappoint a), thence to relay-point '5through wire 10 and lever K, thence on wire T to tap-point t thence tomagnet D of transmitter A, thence to battery.

When the lever E of one of the transmitters is released and raised byits spring it will first break contact at f and make the circuit throughthe magnet D of the other transmitter and the magnet L of the relayconnected therewith, asj ust described. A further movement of the leverwill next close the contacts 9 and h of the transmitter, which acts as acut-out to cut the relay-point t' out of the circuit R or T,with whichit is connected. The circuit from battery Z, for example, will then passfrom positive pole up to magnet L of relay B, thence to tap-point t,thence down to lay B is similar to the one just described and extendsfrom tap-point u down to tap-point 1", thence on main wire N to switchP, thence through post G, spring G, contacts 9 and h, and post H, alongwire U to tap-point 'r. This loop permits the current from battery X topass through magnets D and L without passing over the relay-point Theoperation is as follows: The main circuits N and S and the localcircuits R and T being closed, the magnets D will hence be energized andthe levers E will be held down, thereby making contact at. points f andg 011 the transmitters A and A. Suppose that the operator at stationnorth desires to send a message to station south, which is to berepeated at the intermediate station. All circuits being closed, theoperator must first open the circuit N at his key. This will breakcircuit N, demagnetize magnet I of relay B, and release the lever K,thereby breaking the main local circuit R at i. The breaking of localcircuit R demagnetize magnet D of transmitter A, thereby releasing thearmature-lever E,which breaks contact at f This shunts the local circuitT through the magnet L of relay B without demagnetizin g the magnet I)in its circuit. As lever E rises contact g It will be brought togetherand relay-point 1' of relay B cut out of circuit. The main circuit S isthen broken by a further movement of the lever at g e, the magnet I ofrelay B demagnetized, and the signal or break repeated to the southernstation. \Vhen the magnet I is demagnetized, however, thelever K willnot fall away and open the local circuit at 1', for the reason thatextra magnet L is energized by said local circuit and holds the lever Kin a closed position. Vhen the operator at the northern station closeshis key, the armature K of relay B Will be drawn up and the localcircuit R made at i, thereby energizing magnet D of transmitter A anddrawing down the lever E. This lever breaks contact atg' 71, therebyrestoring the relaypoint "i of relay B into circuit, makes contact at g6, thereby repeating the signal on to the southern station and makingcontact at f, thereby demagnetizing magnet L of the relay B, the magnetI being now energized and capable of holding its armature in place.

V'ihen it-is desired to use the instruments independently to send amessage by either of the keys 0 O or both of them, the switches P P areturned to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. The switches serve to cutout the extra magnet L and to disconnect each transmitter from the mainline of the opposite side.

If it is desired to send a message with the key 0 on southern line, theswitch will be turned to the position shown in Fig. 5. The switch P isshown in Fig. 3 with the lever I and bridges removed. The local circuitT will then pass from the positive pole of battery Z on wire T totap-point I, along wire to switch P, across fixed wire 1) to upper pointof opposite segment, thence on main wire S to tap-point t, thence onwire T through re- 1ay-point of relay B, thence on wire T to tappointthence through magnet D of transmitter A to battery. The switch P beingturned in the same manner, the two main-line circuits will be completelydisconnected and the instruments may be used separately, like ordinarytelegraph-instruments. The point f and points g h act together toprevent the breaking of the local circuit, which passes through magnet Dand through magnets D L alternately. It will thus be seen that when thecircuit is broken at f" the magnet L is instantly energized and therelay-points held together until thesaid points are cut out of circuitby the points g 71. It the relay-points were not cutout of the localcircuit at this period, any disturbance of the said local circuit,caused by lightning or by the operator breaking the main circuit on thereceiving side, would open the relay-point slightly and the extra magnetL being in such case wholly dependent on the local circuit through saidrelay-point, it would become demagnetized. Magnet I) would also becomedemagnetized and the relay-point would fall open. The relay-points ofthe sending side being also open at this period, both main circuitswould be broken and remain in this condition until the operator at theintermediate station closed them. This difficulty is obviated by thepoints g h.

Care should be taken where two circuits pass over the same wiresimultaneously that they both How in the same direction; otherwise theywould neutralize each other.

It will be observed that the contact-points of the transmitter are soarranged that there is no insulation or other obstruction upon thelevers E, and they are thereby enabled to give a clear and sharp sound.

It will be seen that the instruments A A, which are herein denominatedtransmitters, act both as transmitters and as sounders, and whenseparated from their respective repeating-circuits they may each be usedas a sounder in sending and receiving messages.

\Vhat I desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s 1. In a repeatingtelegraphic system, the combination of a relay in a main-line circuitand a local circuit closed through the relaycontacts When its armatureis in its attracted position, said relay being provided with a magnetlocated in a branch of said localcir cuit of greater resistance than themain local circuit and adapted to hold the armature-lever in itsattracted position, substantially described.

2. In a repeating telegraph system, the combination of a relay in amain-line circuitsaid relay being provided with an armature, leverprovided with two armatures on opposite faces and on opposite sides ofits pivot, and a local circuit closed through the relaycontacts when thearmature of the relay is in its attracted position, said relay beingprovided with a supplemental magnet located in a branch of said localcircuit of greater resistance than the main local and adapted to actupon one of the armat-ures of the relay, substantially as described.

3. In a repeating telegraph system, the combination of a relay in themain-line circuit, having a supplemental magnet for hold- IIO ing therelay-armature in its attracted position, a combined Sounder andtransmitter, a main local circuit through the said sounder andtransmitter-magnet, and relay-points having a branch through thesupplemental relay-magnet and through the magnet of the said sounder andtransmitter, a repeating line-circuit and a local repeating-circuit, andan electric circuit-controller in the local repeating-circuit forclosing the branch local circuit of the main line, substantially asdescribed.

4. Ina'repeating telegraph system, the combination of a relay in themain-line circuithaving a supplemental magnet for holding therelay-armature in its attracted position, a combined sounder andtransmitter, a main local circuit through the sounder andtransmitter-magnet and through the relay-points, having a loop or branchthrough the sounder and transmitter-magnet and through the supplementalmagnet, a repeating line-circuit, and a local repeating-circuit, and anelectric circuit-controller in the local repeating-circuit for closingthe branch of the main-line local through the main-line sounder andtransmitter, and the supplemental relay-magnet, substantially asdescribed.

5. In arepeating telegraph system, the combination, with a relay andtransmitter in the main-line circuit and a relay and transmitter in therepeating-circuit, of a supplemental magnet for each relay, adapted toclose the relay-points, a main local circuit through the relay-pointsand the magnet of the main-line transmitter having a branch circuitthrough the supplemental relay-magnet and through the magnet of themain-line transmitter, a

local repeating-circuit through the repeating relay-points, and themagnet of the repeatingtransmitter having a branch through thesupplemental magnet of the repeating-relay and the magnet of therepeating-transmitter, the main-line transmitter being provided with acircuit-controller for closing the branch local 0f the repeating-line,and the repeating-transmitter having a circuit-controller for closingthe branch local of the main line, substantially as described.

6. In a repeating telegraph system, the combination of a relay in themain circuit having a supplemental magnet for holding the relayarmaturein its attracted position, a combined sounder and transmitter, a mainlocal circuit through the sounder and transmitter-magnet and through therelay-points, having a loop or branch through the sounder andtransmitter-magnet and through the supplemental magnet, a repeatingline-circuit, a relay in the main local circuit, a localrepeating-circuit, a circuit-controller in the local repeating-circuitfor closing the branch of the main line local through the main-linesounder and transmitter-magnet, the supplemental magnet of the main-line relay, and points located on the main-line transmitter for cuttingthe relay-points of the main repeating-line relay out of circuit whenthe circuit-controller is operated to make the branch local,substantially as described.

In testimony whereot l alfix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

RICHARD J. MOILHENNY. Witnesses:

O. 0. BROWN, THos. C. MOILHENNY.

